Liquid dispenser



y 2, 1933- c. o. CHRISTIANSON 1,906,839

LIQUID DISPENSER Filed Feb. 26, 1932 5 Sheets-Sheet l as g 5 E 77 39 i 92- 90 1.

I 1 l 7 a9 is Zhwentor a jy attorney 2, 1933- c. 0. CHRISTIANSON ,339

LIQUID DISPENSER File d Feb. 26, 1952 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Ihwentor C. C'h stlansou moslsw May 1933 c. o. CHRISTIANSON LIQUID DISPENSER Filed Feb. 26, 1932 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Zhwentor Chr sbansmz May 2, 11 c. o. CHRISTIANSON LIQUID DISPENSER Filed Feb. '26, 1952 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 3m entor a G, @hpysijansnm May 2, 1933.

C. O. CHRISTIANSON LIQUID DISPENSER Filed Feb. 26, 1952 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 3nnentor 0'. 0. C/ZIj/St/(ZHSOTZ (Ittorneg Patented May 2, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CARL O. CHRISTLANSON, OF MEBRIMAN, NEBRASKA, ASSIGNOR T0 COLD-DRINKS COM- PANY, A CORPORATION OF NEBRASKA LIQUID DISPENSER Application filed February 26, 1932. Serial No. 595,303.

This invention relates to a liquid dispenser, and has for its object, broadly, to provide an apparatus of such proportions that 1t may contain the usual parts for cooling water and mechanism for mixing the water with beverage concentrates, together with parts operating to deliver the prepared mixture to the consumer or purchaser, all of the parts to operate coincidently by action of the purchaser of the beverage while moving a lever in the act of depositing a coin, said apparatus to be used in public places generally so that, at a limited cost, cool drinks may be available.

It is an object of the invention to provide a dispensing apparatus for liquids which will consist of few and simple parts so that it may be manufactured conveniently and at a limited cost and will be durable and convenient in use. The invention includes an apparatus of such construction that all of its parts which occasionally require cleaning or cleansing may readily be disassembled or separated for that purpose.

With the foregoing objects in view and others to be mentioned, the invention presents a new and useful construction, combination and arrangement of parts as described herein and claimed and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, it being understood that changes may be made in form, size, pro portion of parts and minor details as may be found to be of advantage, said changes being within the scope of the invention as claimed.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a view showing the upper part of the liquid dispenser, a part of the front of the casing being removed to disclose certain mechanism, and parts of the mechanism being in longitudinal section.

Fig. 2 is a side View of parts, the swinggate, cup-receptacle and entire casing being in longitudinal section on line 2-2 of Fig. 3, one of the cup-magazines being removed. Fig. 3 is a plan view showing operating parts, the casing being in transverse section on line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Figs. 4 to 12 inclusive relates to details for illustrating parts shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3 of the drawings.

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of a pair of pawls and a time lock and ratchet movable by a hand-lever, and Fig. 5 is a front view of the same.

Fig. 6 is a plan view of a cam and pair of pawls, and Fig. 7 is a front view of the same, the hand-lever being in transverse section.

Fig. 8 is a view in longitudinal section showing the lower part of a valve, its seat, a piston and its cylindrical housing. Fig. 9 illustrates a tongue or bi-pass in a leather packing, this being a detail relating to Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a View in longitudinal section of a mainoperating-valve. Fig. 11 is a side view, partly in section of the same. Fig. 12

'is a detail relating to Fig. 5.

Referring now to the drawings for a more particular description, it should be stated that the parts used for refrigeration in the lower part of the casing are not shown since the same are not considered to be necessary.

As shown in the drawings the machine consists of two symmetrical units, mounted side by side on the base plate 1. Either one of said units is controlled by the hand-lever 2.

Said lever can be moved in an arc of 90 degrees to the right or to the left, and, as later will be described, this motion will cause respectively, right or left units to commence operation.

The lever 2 is movably mounted in brackets 3 and 4, which are fastened to the base plate 1. On the horizontal part of the lever are secured the coin-interlocking cam 5, spur gear 6, the cam or time lock 7 and the ratchet device 8.

The handle of the lever 2 is normally disposed in a vertical position. As best shown in Figs. 6, 7 of the drawings, a pair of pawls 9 and 9a are used, their respective mountings beingindicated at 10 and 10a upon which they may have rocking movements, and their respective convergent ends 11 and 11a may engage in a notch or recess 12 which is provided for the cam 5.

If the lever 2 is moved without first inserting a coin, there would be no operation of parts. A movement of the lever to the right will be terminated when the end 11 of the pawl 9 engages the end 13 of the notch 12, and if the lever is swung in a reverse direction the end 11a of the pawl 9a will engage the end 14 of said notch 12 and will terminate the swinging movement of the lever.

When a coin is inserted it will slide down the inclined spout 15 which guides the coin into a pocket 16 in cam 5. A right hand motion of the lever 2, will cause the rim of the coin to strike against a prong 17 on the pawl 9. The coin striking against said prong will cause the pawl to slightly swing upward around its pivot 10. This motion lifts the pawl out of its engagement with notch 12, allowing lever 2 to complete its full motion of 90 degrees.

To stop the motion of the lever at the end of 90 degrees, cam 5 is provided with recesses 18 and 18a. When the lever has moved 90 degrees, the pawl 9 will strike against recess 18a which will prevent any further downward motion of the lever. The coin having lifted the pawl 9 out of engagement with notch 12, it follows the motion of the lever until it rolls out of its pocket 16 of cam'5 into a spout 19 by which the coin is guided into a receptacle 20.

In the same manner as described a movement of the lever 2 to the left is controlled by the coin striking against prong 17a on pawl 9a, causing the pawl to be lifted out of engagement with notch 12, and at the completion of the 90 degree motion the end 11a of the pawl 9a will enter recess 18, thus term1- nating the downward movement of lever 2. The coin when rolling out of pocket 16 in cam 5 is guided by spout 21 into a receptacle 22.

As the operation and control of each of the units above referred to depend on a full 90 degree motion of lever 2, it is imperative that provisions be made making it necessary for a person moving the lever, to fully complete said motion, and to meet this requirement the ratchet device 8 is provided.

As shown in Figs. 1, 2, 4 and 5 the ratchet consists of a segment having two sets of teeth 23 and 23a, separated from each other by an angular notch 24. The ratchet is securely mounted on lever 2, and turns with it. Pawl 25, (best shown in Fig. 2) by means of pivot 26, is movably mounted on bracket 3. A spring 27 at its upper end is attached to the pawl. The lower end of the spring is fastened to a lug 28 on bracket 3. Ordinarily the pawl 25 maintains a vertical position in the angular notch 24 midway between the teeth 23 and 23a.

It has been stated that before a coin is de posited, lever 2 can be moved only to a limited extent. Within this range of motion of the lever, the pawl 25 will not make contact with the teeth. Depositing a coin, as has been explained, allows a motion of lever 2 beyond this limit and then the pawl, by action of spring 27, will snap into engagement with teeth 23 or 23a, depending on whether the lever is moved to the right or left.

Assuming that the person moving the lever should turn the same only part of its intended stroke, pawl 25 will be in engagement with the teeth and, as shown in Fig. 12, the lever can not return to its vertical position before the lever has been moved to its full extent of 90 degrees, when the pawl will become disengaged from the teeth.

Spring 29, as best shown in Fig. 2, is fastened at its upper end to the time lock 7 and the lower end of same is secured to a pin 30 in base plate 1. A motion of lever 2, in either right or left direction, will cause tension of this spring. The spring will thus tend to return the lever to its perpendicular position.

In its horizontal position, lever 2 is by means of lock 7 acting on piston rod 38 or 38a, and as later will be explained, said piston rod must be held in its downward position long enough for a volume of water under pressure to force piston 56 to its uppermost position. The handle of the lever 2, therefore, must not be allowed to return to its vertical position until said operation has been finished. The locking of lever 2 with its body in a horizontal position (best shown in Figs. 4, 5) is carried out by means of pawls 31 and 31a which are mounted on pivots 32 and 32a, secured to lugs 33 and 33a. When the handle of lever 2 maintains a vertical position the ends 34 and 34a of pawls 31 and 31a, by means of springs 35 and 350. will bear on the rim of time lock 7. This lock is provided with recesses 36 and 36a. Lock 7, being secured to lever 2, moves with same, and when the lever has reached its right hand horizontal position, pawl 31 will, by action of spring 35, drop into recess 36. In a left hand position of the lever, pawl 31a, by action of spring 35a, will drop into recess 36a.

Not until the pawl, at the time in action, has been moved out of its recess in lock 7 can handle of lever 2 return to its vertical position.

As the right or left hand motion oflever 2 causes identical results in respect to the right and left hand units of this apparatus, for the sake of clearness, only one unit, the left, will be explained in the following description.

Before the handle of lever 2 reaches its horizontal position, point 37 on lock 7 will strike against piston rod 38a and force the same downward. The piston rod is guided by sleeve 39 which is secured to base plate 1 by means of a nut 40, best shown in Fig. 1. As best shown in Fig. 10 the lower end of the piston rod is provided with a cup-leatherpiston 41 which is held in place by the screw 42. This piston moves in an upright tube or valve housing 43. Piston rod 38a moving downward will result in head of screw 42 finally striking against the upper end of valve stem 44, causing a slight motion of same. By this motion the valve 45 will move from its seat or packing 46.

Cold water under pressure, coming from a refrigeration unit, and (Figs. 1, 2) entering conduit 47 is, by the T pipe section 48 branched to the left and right units. The water will enter the lower end of the tube 43 (Fig. 1, 10) by way of port 49 in cover 50. The valve stem 44 being held in open position, the water goes past the valve 45, enters port 51 and conduit 52. The cup-leatherpiston 41 will prevent any water from leaking through in the upper part of" the tube 43. By conduit 52 (Figs. 1, 8) the water reaches port 53 in cover 54 and enters the lower end of the upright cylinder 55.

Piston 56 is packed with a cup-leather 57 which is secured to the pistonby means of a follower 58. This follower is provided with a pocket 59 in which is fastened a fiat spring 60. A tongue 61, (Fig. 9) is formed by a semi-circular slit in the cup-leather 57, covers port 62 in the bottom of piston 56. This movable lip in cup-leather 57 is firmly held over port 62 by the action of spring 60. Port 63 combines pocket 59 with the lower part of cylinder 55.

As shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, cylinder 55 at its upper end is provided with a liquid container or cylindrical bowl 55'. This bowl provides the support for a glass bottle 64 resting on a rubber ring 65. The glass bottle may be filled with any kind of beverage concentrate. According to the well known principle of the hydrostatic column, the beverage concentrate in the bottle will cease to flow out of the bottle when, after having partly filled the bowl it reaches the mouth of the bottle.

Numeral 66 indicates the head of the cylinder 55, this head being disposed in the lower part of the bowl 55, and held in place by means of slotted lugs 67 and 68 (Figs. 1, 3) and pins 69 and 70. This head may be removed from the cylinder whenever required. A slight turn of the cylinder head is sufficient to cause disengagement from the pins. The upper part of the cylinder head is provided with a threaded opening into which is screwed the upper end of the stationary piston rod 71, locked by a lock nut 72. The lower end of said piston rod carries a cup- .leather-piston 73.

Piston 56 is provided with an inside barrel 7 4 (Figs. 1, 8). Around this barrel, and bearing against the inside bottom of piston 56, is a spring 75 fastened to the piston by a pin 76. The upper portion of this spring bears against cylinder-head 66, and is guided by a sleeve 77.

By moving through the intake passageway 78 in cylinder-head 66, and by passing underneath cup-leather-piston 73, the beverage con cepgrate reaches and completely fills the barre 4.

Cleaning of all partscoming into direct contact with the beverage concentrate is facilitated by the fact that all of said parts may be quickly and easily removed. The glass bottle is first removed, then the cylinder-head 66, with its piston rod 71 and cup-leatherpiston 7 3. By next taking hold of spring 75 the piston 56 can be pulled out of the cylinder 55. The cylinder itself is then freed from all movable parts and is thus accessible for cleaning. It has heretofore been explained that water under pressure enters through port 53 in cover 54. The pressure of the liquid will then force piston 56 up against the force of the spring 75 and thereby compressing the same. After a short motion of piston 56, the barrel 74 will meet and will surround the stationary cup-leather-piston 73 and thereby entrapping the beverage concentrate in barrel 74. It is obvious that the continued motion of piston 56 will cause the contents of barrel 74 to be sufficiently compressed to open the lip 61 in cup-leather 57 and pass into pocket 59 and finally through port 63 when the beverage concentrate will meet the inflowing water. The two different liquids coming into contact counter-currently are then mixed in a very satisfactory manner.

After the piston 56 has moved a certain distance, the-rim of same will strike against the bar or trigger 79, which will transmit the motion to adjustment screw 80 carried by the pawl 3111. This end of the pawl upon which the screw is mounted will move slightly upward by action of the piston 56 and the other end of this pawl will move downward, disengaging recess 35a and thus releasing the lever 2, the handle of which will then return to its vertical position by action of spring 29. The downward pressure of piston rod 38a by the lock or cam 7 will consequently cease. By action of spring 81, hearing with its lower end against sleeve 39 and with its upper end against a washer 82 and cotter pin 83 in piston rod 38a, (Figs. 4, 5) piston 38a will rapidly return to its previous position with cupleather-piston 41 at the upper end of the tube or valve housing 43 where said piston uncovers four small outlet ports 84 (Fig. 11). The valve 44, having been held open by screw 42 pressing against it will now by action of spring 85 (Fig. 10) return to its closed position. Thus the water pressure on piston 56 will cease. Spring 75, having been compressed by action of piston 41 and by its upward stroke, said spring 75 will now force the piston 56 back to its lower position, and thus, the now ready mixed beverage will be forced through conduit 52 into valve housing 43, through port 86, and finally by the small outlet ports 84 into the discharge (Figs. 2, 11) conduit 87 by which the beverage is delivered directly into a paper cup 88 which, later'to be described, previously and automaticall has been placed into position to receive t e beverage when discharged.

In Fig. 1 of the drawings, cup-leather-piston 73' is shown in a position shglhtly above the barrel 74. Increasing this 'stance between piston and barrel means that the ton 56 has to move a greater distance be ore the mouth of the barrel meets with and 1S closed by the piston 73, and as no beverage concentrate can be forced out of the barrel through port 62 before that occurs, itfollows that the greater the distance between plston and barrel, when the barrel is in its lower position, the less is the amount of beverage concentrate forced out through port 62. To adjust the strength of the beverage d1s-. pensed, it is thus necessary only to loosen lock nut 7 2 and screw the piston rod 71 sl1ghtly upward or downward.

To adjust the amount of water flowing into port 53 in cover 54 only a slight manipulation of the adjustment screw 80 in pawl 31a is necessary. If this screw is turned so that the gap between the same and the triggerhar 79 is increased, it is evident that piston 56 must move a corresponding longer distance before trigger-bar strikes screw 80 and causing pawl 31a to trip and the longer the stroke of the piston the greater will be the volume of water flowing into the port 53.

lVhen lever 2 (Figs. 1, 3) is moved 90 degrees as before described, the spur gear 6 which is secured to the lever and engages with the cogs in sliding gate 89 will cause a motion of same. The gate, guided by the rod 90, will slide to the left when the handle of the lever is moved downward to the right. A motion of the handle of the lever to the left will cause the gate to slide to the right. In the right hand motion of the lever, gate 89 will move leftward and lug 91 on the gate will strike against the lever 92. This lever is part of an automatic paper cup dispenser 93 (Figs. 1, 3). of well known and conventional design. Said motion of lever 92 causes the lowermost cup in magazine 94 to be released. The gate will then have moved a sufiicient distance to uncover a circular aperture 95 (Fig. 2) in base plate 1. The released cup will then fall through said aperture into a receptacle 96, where it will receive the beverage discharged from conduit 87 as before explained.

In a similar manner a motion of lever 2 to the left will cause the gate to move to the right, and lug 97 will strike against lever 98 of paper cup dispenser 99 when the lowermost cup in corresponding magazine 100 will be released. The aperture 101 in base plate 1 will then be uncovered allowing the released cup to fall into receptacle 96.

The upper part of receptacle 96 is provided with a plate glass 1052 through which the filling of the beverage into the cup may plainly be seen. The filled cup can be reached b swin in thes rin door 103 (Figs. 1, 2) dbwnwa rdlg and srhici renders the inside of the receptacle readily accessible.

I claim as my invention,-

1. In a liquid dispenser, a tube having a valve seat for a communication with a liquid under pressure, a ,port and a discharge passage-way, a valve for said valve seat, a piston in said tube, a cylinder having a port communicating with the port of said tube and having anintake passageway in communication with a liquid supply, a piston in the cylinder provided with a barrel in communication with the intake passageway of said cylinder and having a valve seat opening in the barrel, a valve for the last named valve seat, a stationary piston, resilient means tending to resist a movement of the first named piston of the cylinder in one direction, the piston in said tube being movable in one direction for moving the valve therein from its seat to permit a movement of a piston in the cylinder, said barrel receiving the station ary piston for compressing and mixing and moving the liquid from the barrel to the cylinder, the piston in said tube being movable in a reverse direction to permit the mixed liquidsto move from the cylinder through the first named port of said cylinder and through the discharge passageway of said tube by action of said resilient means.

2. In a liquid dispenser, a cylinder provided with a sleeve, an intake passageway and a port, a longitudinally adjustable piston rod traversing the sleeve, a piston on the piston rod, a slidingly mounted piston in the cylinder having a barrel in communication with said intake passageway and having a valve seat opening in said barrel and communicating with the port of the cylinder, a spring supported by the sleeve and normally resisting a movement of the slidingly mounted piston, a valve for the valve seat of the last named piston, a tube having a valve seat, a discharge passageway and having a port in communication with the port of the cylinder, a valve for the valve seat of said tube, a piston in said tube arranged to be moved in one direct on for moving the valve thereof, said shdingly mounted piston and its barrel bemg movable against the force of the spring, the barrel receiving the piston of the longitudinally adjustable piston rod, the piston 1n said tube being movable in a reverse di- Eegtmn to permit closure of the valve in said 3. In a liquid dispenser, an upright tube having a valve seat for a communication with a liquid under pressure, a port and a discharge passageway, a valve for said valve seat, a piston in said tube, an upright cylinder having a port communicating with the port of said tube and provided with a liquid container in communication therewith, a piston in the lower part of the cylinder provided with a barrel in communication with the liquid container and having a valve seat opening in the barrel, a val e for the last named valve seat, a stationary piston, a spring tending to resist an upward movement of the first named piston of the cylinder, the piston in said tube being movable downwardly for moving the valve therein from its seat to cause an upward movement of a piston in the cylinder, said barrel receiving the stationary piston for compressing and mixing and moving the liquid from the barrel to the cylinder, the piston in said tube being movable upwardly to permit the mixed liquids to move from the cylinder through the port of said cylinder and through the discharge passageway of said tube by action of said spring.

4. In a liquid dispenser, a cylinder having an intake passageway for receiving a beverage concentrate and having a port, a stationary piston within the cylinder, a slidably mountedpist'on in the cylinder having a barrel communicating with said intake passageway and having a valve seat opening in said barrel and communicating with the port of the cylinder. a spring in said cylinder, a valve for the valve seat of the slidably mounted piston. a tube having a valve seat communicating with a liquid supply under pressure, a discharge passageway and having a port in communication with the port of the cylinder, a valve for the valve seat of said tube, a piston in said tube arranged to be moved in one direction for moving the valve thereof to permit liquid under pressure to enter the cylinder for moving the slidably mounted piston and its barrel against the force of the spring, said barrel receiving the stationary piston to cause the beverage concentrate to move outwardly of the barrel and to become mixed with the liquid under pressure. the piston in said tube being movable in a reverse direction to permit closure of the valve in said pipe and to permit a movement of the mixed liquids to move from said cylinder into said tube by action of said spring to move through the discharge passageway of said tube.

5. In a liquid dispenser. an upright cylinder having a port and an intake passageway for receiving a beverage concentrate, a slid ably mounted piston having a valve seat, a barrel for receiving the beverage concentrate and a valve for said valve seat, a stationary piston rod provided with a piston, a spring normally resisting a movement of the slidably mounted piston. an upright pipe in communication at its lower end with a liquid under pressure and provided with a valve, a discharge passageway and having a port communicating with the port of the cylinder, :1 piston adapted to have a downward movement in the tube to open the valve therein and permit the liquid under pressure to enter the port of the cylinder to cause an upward movement of said slidably mounted piston, the barrel receiving the piston of the stationary piston rod for moving the beverage concentrate from the barrel to the cylinder for compressing and mixing the beverage concentrate and said liquid, the valve in said tube being arranged to have an upward movement for closing the valve therein and permit the mixed beverage concentrate and liquid to move from the cylinder to said tube for a movement through the discharge passageway thereof by action of said spring.

6. In a liquid dispenser, a tube having a discharge passageway, a valve and a communication with a liquid under pressure, a cylinder in communication with the tube K and having an intake passageway for a beverage concentrate, devices in the cylinder for compressing and mixing a measured volume of beverage concentrate and liquid in said cylinder by action of said liquid under pressure, means for closing the valve in said tube, and means in the cylinder for delivering the mixture from the cylinder to the discharge passageway of said tube.

7 In a liquid dispenser, a tube provided with a valve, a discharge passageway and being in communication with a liquid under pressure, a cylinder in communication with said tube and in communication with a. beverage concentrate, devices in the cylinder for compressingand mixing a measured volume of beverage concentrate and liquid in said cylinder by action of said liquid under pressure, means for closing the valve in said tube, means in the cylinder for moving the mixture therefrom to the discharge passageway of the tube, and adjustable devices for controlling the volume of liquid under pressure which enters the cylinder.

8. In a liquid dispenser, an upright tube communicating at its lower end with a liquid under pressure and provided with a discharge passageway, a valve in the tube, a container for a beverage concentrate, a cylinder in communication with the tube and in communication with said container, a stationary piston in the cylinder, a spring-controlled piston in the cylinder provided with a barrel and a valve seat opening on the barrel, a valve for said valve seat, means for moving the valve of said tube to permit liquid to enter the cylinder for moving the spring-controlled piston andbarrel thereon to cause compression and mixing of measured volumes of the beverage concentrate and liquid in said cylinder, means for moving the valve in said tube to closed position to permit a movement of the mixture from the cylinder to said tube for a movement through the discharge passageway of said tube.

9. In a liquid dispenser, a cylinder, a container for a. beverage concentrate in communication with the cylinder, a stationary piston in the cylinder, a spring-controlled piston provided with a barrel and a valve seat opening on the barrel, a tube communicating with a liquid supply under pressure and provided with a discharge passageway, a conduit communicating with the tube and in communication with the cylinder, a valve in the tube arranged to be opened to permit a movement of the liquid under pressure to enter the cylinder for moving the springcontrolled piston to cause a measured volume of the beverage concentrate to pass the valve seat of the spring-controlled piston and become mixed in the cylinder with a measured volume of liquid under pressure, and means for closing the valve in the tube to permit the mixture to move from the cylinder to pass through the discharge passageway of the tube by action of the spring-controlled piston of the cylinder.

10. In a liquid dispenser, a container for a beverage concentrate, a cylinder in communication with said container, a normally stationary piston in the cylinder, a spring-controlled piston in the cylinder, a tube in communication with the cylinder and in communication with a liquid under pressure and provided with a discharge passageway, a valve in said tube arranged to be opened to permit liquid under pressure to enter the cylinder, devicesin the cylinder coacting with the normally stationary piston and spring-controlled piston for measuring, compressing and mixing liquid and beverage concentrate in the cylinder by action of the liquid under pressure, the valve in said tube being arranged to be closed to permit the mixed liquid and beverage concentrate to move to the discharge passageway of the tube by action of the spring-controlled piston, said normally stationary piston being adjustable for increasing or decreasing the volume of the beverage concentrate measured, compressed and mixed with said liquid.

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature.

CARL O. CHRISTIANSON. 

